{"id":42510,"date":"2015-09-28T22:40:13","date_gmt":"2015-09-28T22:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=34545"},"modified":"2016-08-01T16:42:55","modified_gmt":"2016-08-01T13:42:55","slug":"34545-weekly-media-overview-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/34545-weekly-media-overview-2","title":{"rendered":"Weekly overview of the Ukrainian media between September 22 \u2013 28, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Situation in the ATO zone<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the enduring four-week ceasefire in the conflict zone there are opinions that hostilities in Donbas may resume in case Putin\u2019s visit to the UN General Assembly is unsuccessful. At the same time some experts note there is a possibility to quickly establish peace in the region in case the situation follows the \u2018Transnistrian scenario\u2019. Ukraine\u2019s Ministry for Foreign Affairs assumes that Russia will allow establishing peace in Donbas in case agreement with the West on Syria is reached.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor about a month the adversary has not been using heavy weapons<\/a> including tanks, mortars and artillery. Only minor hostile provocations on the frontline and local skirmishes are taking place. Very often fire is not launched precisely but in order to provoke Ukrainian troops to return fire. By doing so the enemy is trying to blame conflict escalation on the ATO forces,\u201d said spokesman of Administration of the President of Ukraine on ATO-related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk.<\/p>\n

Despite the relatively calm situation in the ATO zone, 33 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces were registered over the last week. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed in action and eight were wounded in the ATO zone over the last week. On September 27 (http:\/\/www.radiosvoboda.org\/content\/news\/27274897.html)militants were firing upon Maryinka for one and a half hour, other violations were registered near Lozove, Mayorske and Luhanske (Donetsk region).<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin believes that under certain circumstances the conflict in Donbas may continue<\/a>. . \u201cIn case discussion on Syria situation and on several other issues will not be supported and continued with Washington, and to a smaller extent with the European Union, Russia and Putin may consciously destabilize the situation in Donbas,\u201d said the Minister.<\/p>\n

Ukraine wants a complete and unconditional ceasefire to be established<\/a>, said Ukraine\u2019s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Russia needs to cease fire completely and unconditionally not temporarily ahead of the UN General Assembly. According to him Ukraine stands ready to hold fair and transparent elections in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. To make it happen Ukrainian government and Ukrainian legislation need to be restored in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.<\/p>\n

OSCE calls on the sides to make further steps to strengthen recent positive developments<\/a>. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine also continues to register a relatively quiet situation. In Donetsk region, particularly in Horlivka the situation remains tense. Not a single case of heavy weaponry use was registered in Luhansk region, said Alexander Hug, Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine<\/p>\n

Ukraine will do everything possible not to let fake elections happen <\/a>\u00a0on the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, taking into account experience of illegal \u2019elections\u2019 of November 2, 2014. The President recalled the clear statements of the international community that such \u2019elections\u2019 are not in line with Ukrainian legislation, therefore free expression of citizens\u2019 will cannot take place.<\/p>\n

A Ukrainian court sentenced Russian Major Starkov to 14 years for participating in waging war against Ukraine, said Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoliy Matios<\/a>. Starkov \u00a0admitted his guilt in full, added Matios. (News piece in English<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The so-called \u2019Luhansk People\u2019s Republic\u2019 (\u2018LPR\u2019) militants ordered all UN agencies to immediately leave the territory of the self-proclaimed republic (in English<\/a>). The so-called \u2019Donetsk People\u2019s Republic\u2019 militants did not let eight trucks with humanitarian aid from the Red Cross (in English<\/a>) enter its territory. Doctors Without Borders<\/a> (M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res) emphasized that the ban imposed by the so-called \u2019LPR\u2019 on their organization is depriving people of access to medicine and medical aid. Ukraine\u2019s Ministry for Foreign Affairs<\/a>, in turn, underlined that impeding work of international humanitarian organizations in such a way is unacceptable.<\/p>\n

President Poroshenko\u2019s visit to the United States<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

During meetings with leaders of EU countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly the President<\/a> of Ukraine enlisted support for Ukraine\u2019s position. \u201cWe were assured that the Syria issue cannot be conflated with the Ukraine issue,\u201d the President \u00a0stated. President Poroshenko<\/a> emphasized that Ukraine will keep making decisive steps to protect its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. He also mentioned that Ukraine will suggest changes that aim to restore the rightful role of the UN and of the UN Security Council as a mechanism to protect global security.<\/p>\n

Statement by the President of Ukraine at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in the framework of the UN General Assembly in English<\/a>. Main goal is peace and freedom to secure sustainable development of humanity, stressed President Poroshenko<\/p>\n

Combatting corruption<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

President Poroshenko said that introducing changes to the state procurement law and bringing it into compliance with international standards is a powerful tool to counteract corrupt acts. In their turn the newly created agencies such as the National Anticorruption Bureau, new police and Anticorruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office promised to decisively prosecute corruption (article in English<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Corruption in Ukraine remains a major problem as people in power may change but oligarchs remain in place<\/a> because they have money and such a system is profitable for many, said ex-President of Georgia and current the Head of the Odesa state regional administration, Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili noted that the EU wanted to establish a fund covering salaries of civil servants but the Ukrainian side did not let it do so.<\/p>\n

The Prosecutor General Office refuses to combat internal corruption and is undermining reforms that the Ukrainian government is undertaking, claimed the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt<\/a> speaking at a financial forum in Odesa. According to him the Prosecutor General Office impedes everything that the Parliament, Cabinet of Ministers and the National Reforms Council are doing to accelerate political and economic reforms. \u201cInstead of supporting reforms in Ukraine and working to eliminate corruption, corrupt civil servants at the Prosecutor General Office worsen the situation by openly and aggressively undermining reforms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ukraine dropped to 56th place in the updated budget transparency ranking that includes 102 countries and is compiled by the International Budget<\/a> network. Ukraine fell 21 positions in the ranking. Information used to compile the ranking was collected over 2013 and in the first half of 2014. However, according to the experts no radical improvements in budget transparency have happened since.<\/p>\n

Reforms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Decentralization, combatting corruption and reforming judicial and law enforcement systems are parliamentary priorities<\/a>, emphasized Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Volodymyr Groysman. Other changes will be implemented swiftly and effectively, if these basic reforms are implemented, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cReform of the judicial system shall not be reduced to superficial changes <\/a>\u00a0and reinstatement of those who have been taking bribes for many years. A complete change of the entire judicial corps in the country following the principle that was used to create the new Ukrainian police is underway,\u201d stated Ukraine\u2019s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. According to him this principle needs to be extended not only to law enforcement agencies but also to the bodies on which the business climate in the country depends.<\/p>\n

President Poroshenko is ready to support the bill \u00a0on civil service<\/a> drafted with the assistance of the European Union, said Jan Tombinski, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine<\/a>. President Poroshenko held a constructive discussion on this matter with EU Commissioner on Justice Vera Jourova during her visit to Ukraine. EU experts are ready to assist in revising the draft law that sets the basis to reform governance, said Tombinski. Once the bill is adopted, the EU is ready to consider providing financial assistance to support the reform.<\/p>\n

Survey<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do Ukrainians choose the EU or the Eurasian Economic Union? <\/a>According to the Democratic Initiatives Fund and the Razumkov Center research, 51 percent of Ukrainians opt for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. Only 17 percent prefer integration into the Eurasian Economic Union. About one-third of the population (31 percent) cannot decide on their integration priorities. Joining the EU is mostly supported in Western (82%) and Central (52.5%) regions. In the south 39 percent choose integration into the EU, and 26 percent choose the Eurasian Economic Community, 35 percent have not made their choice yet. In eastern Ukraine, 26 percent support the Eurasian vector.\u00a0 The number of those who support the European direction (37.5%) or are uncertain (36%) are similar. Public opinion in the liberated territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is almost equally divided between those who prefer the EU (31.5%), the Eurasian Economic Union (34%) and uncertain (34%). Full report in English. <\/a><\/p>\n

Crimea<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In over a week of the Crimean \u201cblockade\u201d no cargo has crossed the annexed Crimea administrative border with Ukraine, according to the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars R\u0435fat Chubarov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Crimean Human Rights Group <\/a>claims that Russia\u2019s Federal Security Service is interfering in Muslim religious communities\u2019 activities particularly Muslims must now hold “preventive conversations” with the security forces.<\/p>\n

After Crimea came under Russian control, the peninsula lives in an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, physical and psychological pressure, forcing the Crimean Tatars to take a difficult decision to leave their homes in search of a better life on the mainland Ukraine, stated the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Valeria Lutkovska<\/a> ) .<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Russian Federation and the occupation authorities intend to prohibit the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars (\u0430nalytical article in English<\/a>). They want to accuse Mejlis of collaboration with the Ukrainian extremist organisation \u2018Right Sector\u2019 and of receiving funding from the West.<\/p>\n

Gas deal<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission have agreed on terms of Russian gas supplies<\/a> to Ukraine. Agreement on a comprehensive 2015-2016 winter package has been initialed. According to the Vice-President of the European Commission on the Energy Union Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d, all the technical details are settled, and framework agreements defined. The initialed protocol is valid from October 1, 2015 until late March 2016. Under the agreement, Ukraine will receive a discount on gas<\/a>. \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d also says that $500 million will be involved to buy 2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas for subsequent injection into underground storage. The Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn<\/a> noted that Ukraine\u2019s national oil and gas company \u2018Naftogaz\u2019 already has the necessary funds for purchasing this volume.<\/p>\n

Until March 31, 2016, Russia\u2019s Gazprom will not demand that Naftogaz of Ukraine follows the \u2018take and pay\u2019 rule<\/a> which requires paying a minimum amount regardless of the actual purchase volume, as the Russian company confirmed. The company still retains all of its rights under this contract, emphasized Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller.<\/p>\n

Economy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The European Union has prepared a program of financial assistance to Ukraine<\/a>, informed Berend de Groot, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. “The approximate amount of assistance from the EBRD and the EIB is over one billion euro. Besides, \u20ac95 million will be allocated to Ukraine directly from the EU.” According to him, this money will be allocated to local Ukrainian banks for lending to Ukrainian businesses which require technical re-equipment of goods to meet EU export standards.<\/p>\n

Canada additionally intends to invest $26 million in Ukraine reported Roman Washchuk<\/a>, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, at the Odessa Financial Forum. He expressed hope that these funds will help the National Bank to cope with the current difficulties. Over the past 18 months, Canada has already invested over 45 million Canadian dollars in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Since the beginning of 2014 Ukraine has eliminated more than 25% of banks<\/a> (59 in total) in order to produce a more stable domestic banking sector.<\/p>\n

The State Aviation Administration of Ukraine<\/a> notified Russian airlines about a ban on flights to Ukraine. Earlier, the National Security Council of Ukraine adopted the corresponding resolution, which takes effect on October 25.<\/p>\n

We propose analytics, video and reportage in English about Ukraine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Reportage\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

President Poroshenko visits the UN<\/a><\/p>\n

Reportage of\u00a0Ukraine\u00a0Today\u00a0about lives of orphans<\/a> brought from the combat zone<\/p>\n

Border guards detained 22-year-old Italian who wanted to fight on \u201cDPR\u201d side<\/a><\/p>\n

Humanitarian situation in Luhansk worsens<\/a><\/p>\n

People in New York are protesting against Putin\u2019s speech at the UN<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abGreatest victoiries and defeats of Ukraine\u00bb:<\/a>\u00a0interview with\u00a0Rebecca Harms<\/p>\n

\u00abAbyss between Western and Eastern Europe is growing\u00bb<\/a>: interview with\u00a0\u00a0 Swedish intellectual Carl Henrik Fredriksson<\/p>\n

\u00abUkraine wants to join NATO, but does NATO want Ukraine?\u00bb:<\/a>\u00a0interview with\u00a0diplomat Alexander Khara and analyst Michael Cecire.<\/p>\n

\u00abWhat will Putin say at the UN?\u00bb<\/a>\u00a0– interview with\u00a0\u00a0Mykola\u00a0Gnatovsky, Professor of International Law at the Shevchenko National University.<\/p>\n

Analysis<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00abBlockade of Crimea: who does it and why?\u00bb<\/a> – discussion.<\/p>\n

FOOD BLOCKADE OF CRIMEA<\/a>: BELATED ACTION OR CHALLENGE TO KREMLIN FOREIGN POLICY PLANS? An analytical article of the Kharkiv Human Rights Union.<\/p>\n

\u00abHow the negotiations between the USA and Russia on Syria will influence Ukraine\u00bb:<\/a><\/p>\n

Weekly English video\u00a0StopFake\u00a0<\/a>. Media circulate a fake letter, supposedly from a Swedish Chief Prosecutor, promising to classify as \u201csecret\u201d any information found regarding Ukrainian war crimes. Russian media falsely claim that the President of the European Commission predicts \u201ccivil war\u201d and \u201cruin\u201d for Ukraine. Russian media dig up a resolution from 1959 to prove U.S. support for independence for Donbas. And Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko purportedly believes that a federation is a better basis for government than a unitary state.<\/p>\n